First-Aid Kit, Sewing Kit …Toilet Repair Kit?

Every Pittsburg homeowner should have certain tools and supplies on hand in case of a plumbing emergency. Here are a few bathroom plumbing supplies that you should always have on hand so that you can make a simple plumbing repair while you wait for your Pittsburg plumber.Repair Kits:

We all have to deal with a leaky sink, a toilet that won’t flush, or water that won’t turn off at some point. The best way to deal with this is to make sure you always have plumbing repair kits on hand. You can pick up simple toilet repair kits at any big box store or Pittsburg hardware supply store. They generally include all the basic parts needed to repair a toilet.

Sink repair kits will generally have bolts, nuts and washers included, and some may have the stem for the handle as well.Plumber’s Putty:

While plumber‘s putty won’t cure a leaky hose, it will certainly work in a pinch. You can buy this in small jars at most Pittsburg hardware stores. It’s designed to form a temporary seal for leaky hoses or similar parts. If you discover your bathroomsink is leaking from the connector, this is the best thing to apply until you can call your professional Pittsburg plumber to arrange for a more permanent fix. Having this material on hand can potentially save you lots of money in water damage repair.Pipe Epoxy:

Epoxy is similarly not a permanent fix for a hole in a pipe or hose, but it will plug it up long enough to get it fixed. Just as with the putty, the epoxy is good to use in a pinch. The difference is the epoxy can generally be used on wet or dry surfaces, and forms a more secure bond. Use sparingly, though, as it can be very difficult to remove later.

Pipe Wrench:

You never know when you’ll need to tighten a bolt in a hard-to-reach place. Pipe wrenches are designed just for this. They are large enough to reach and grip the farthest pipes in the back of a cabinet or wall.Washers, Bolts, Nuts:

These are so inexpensive that it’s silly to not have some extra ones on hand. You can store these in a small decorative jar or even an old coffee tin. If you have them, you won’t have to worry about running out in the middle of a repair to pick them up.

Drain Snakes:

If you discover a drain that isn’t draining properly, or worse, a toilet that keeps backing up, the easiest fix is to use a snake to remove the clog. Letting a clog go untreated will only make it worse and can potentially cost you a lot more down the road in repairs. You can pick up an inexpensive snake for around $20. Just keep it in the package and tuck it under the cabinet somewhere out of sight, and then you will have it when you need it.A Well Stocked Toolbox:

Keep a toolbox handy and accessible. Always make sure you have all the essential tools inside it. Screwdrivers, both flat and Phillips heads, wrenches of different kinds, extra screws, hammers, a level, etc. This will prevent you from scurrying around later trying to find the misplaced tool when you need it most.

For the longest time, identifying issues within your home's sewer or plumbing systems consisted of a great deal of guesswork and could often result in a great deal of damage to your home in the process. Fortunately, with advancements in technology over recent years, the process of identifying plumbing and sewer line issues within the home have become easier, faster, and more accurate than ever, and it's thanks in large part to the accessibility of video inspection services. With so much of your plumbing system hidden from view, identifying plumbing issues was always a bit difficult, but with video inspections, we are able to give your plumbing system a more thorough inspection than ever before, and all without having to take apart your plumbing to do so. To help highlight just a few of the benefits offered by video inspections for your home's plumbing and sewer system, our team of professionalRead More

Now that spring has finally arrived, many homeowners are choosing to get outside and tackle that long list of outdoor projects that have been on hold over the course of the winter. Even tho the milder weather and temperatures make this time of year ideal for tackling those outdoor improvements, it is important that you don't forget about the other vital aspects of your home that you can't see during this time of year, like your plumbing system. While it might not seem like spring is a time of year where you need to be overly concerned about something going wrong with your plumbing system, there are several plumbing issues that tend to be more common during this time of year, and it pays to know what you should be on the lookout for, and what you can do to keep these issues from getting out of hand. To help you in this, our team of professionals have taken the time to put together this short article highlighting exactly what some of these issues are, and what you can do to keep them in check.
Check Your Bathrooms
Leaking toilets are always an issue to be on the lookout for, but we tend to get more calls about them in spring than at other times of the year. While water leaking from the tank into the bowl isn't usually going to be overly harmful to your home, this constant usage can start to add up over time, and can make a dramatic impact when it comes to your monthly water bills over time. The most effective method of checking for these leaks is to put a few drops of food coloring into you toilet's tank and let it sit for about half an hour. After that time, if you notice that the water in your toilet bowl has changed color, it's a pretty clear-cut sign that there is an issue with at least one of the components in your reservoir. From here, the best course of action is to call in a plumbing professional who can get to the bottom of the issue and get it resolved for you so you stop losing water unnecessarily.
Protect Your Sewer Lines From Growing Roots
Spring is the time for growing, whether its your grass, your garden, or the trees around your property, and as the weather continues to warm up, everything is going to start spreading its roots and searching for water. In the case of trees, this can be particularly problematic as their roots sometimes have a tendency to work their way into your plumbing lines through cracks or damages in their search. Tree roots can cause serious blockages if they find their way into your plumbing lines, not to mention the damage they can cause in the process, so this spring, you will want to make sure that your have your underground pipes inspected and serviced to ensure they aren't at risk of having tree roots invade as the weather continues to heat up in the coming months.
Inspect Your Faucets
Leaking faucets can be a nuisance for more reasons that just the constant dripping sound they make. Depending on the severity of your leak, a leaking faucet can have a fairly large impact over time on your water bills, especially if you have more than one faucet that's doing it. This spring, make sure that your check for moisture in the areas around your faucets, as oftentimes they can develop a leak that is hidden from sight, especially in cases where they run under your sink or cabinets, and if you find any, call in a plumbing professionals as soon as possible to find the source of the leak and put a stop to it.
If you are looking for a professional Brentwood plumber, give us a call today at 925-470-0142 or fill out our online request form.Read More